Basque grammar builds meaning by attaching small suffixes to the end of words.

These tiny suffixes do the exact same job as English prepositions like “in”, “on”, “at”, and “with”.

Because they attach at the end of a noun rather than sitting in front of it, linguists call them postpositions.

Learning how to use Basque postpositions correctly is a major step in your language journey.

Understanding these suffixes will instantly help you string basic sentences together.

Keep reading and I’ll explain the most common Basque postpositions with simple examples.

What is a postposition in Basque?

English uses prepositions that are placed directly before a noun.

You say “in the house”, “to the park”, or “with my friend”.

Basque does the exact opposite.

Instead of adding a separate word before the noun, Basque glues a specific ending directly onto the noun itself.

This system of adding endings is known as declension.

The suffix you add depends on whether the noun is singular, plural, or a proper noun like a city or a person’s name.

The locative postposition (in, on, at)

The locative postposition tells you where something is currently located.

In Basque, this is called the inesiboa.

It translates directly to “in”, “on”, or “at” in English.

To say you’re inside a location, you attach the suffix -n to the end of the word.

Here’s how the locative suffix changes based on the type of noun:

Here are a few dialogue examples to show you how this looks in a real conversation.

The directional postposition (to, toward)

The directional postposition is used when you’re moving toward a specific destination.

In Basque grammar, this is called the adlatiboa.

It translates to “to” or “toward” in English.

You’ll use this postposition alongside verbs of motion, like going or walking.

Notice how the singular suffix uses -ra, but the plural form requires an extra -eta before the ending.

The ablative postposition (from)

The ablative postposition indicates the starting point of an action or movement.

This case is known as the ablatiboa in Basque.

It’s the direct equivalent of the English word “from”.

You’ll use this when explaining where you’re coming from or where an object originated.

Here are some examples of the ablative postposition in action.

The comitative postposition (with someone)

The comitative postposition is used to express companionship.

Basque linguists refer to this as the soziatiboa.

It translates to “with” in English, but it’s strictly used when doing an activity alongside another person or an animal.

It’s highly important to remember that this suffix is only for living companions, not inanimate objects.

If you want to tell someone who you’re spending time with, you add -ekin to their name or title.

The instrumental postposition (by means of)

The instrumental postposition is used when you perform an action using a specific tool or method.

In Basque, this is called the instrumentala.

It translates to “with”, “by”, or “by means of” in English.

Unlike the comitative case above, the instrumental case is exclusively used for objects, vehicles, and tools.

When talking about modes of transportation or general tools, Basques almost always use the indefinite -z form.